The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-07-07
Death of John Kelly.

Death of John Kelly.
A telegram was received in StauntOn on
Monday last announcing the death of Mr.,
inc. Kelly, ST.. of Sweet Chalybeate Springs,
Va. Several months ago Mr.. Kelly was
stricken down with paralysis of the right
side. After he had partially recovered
from The shock he was in the habit of sitting
up in chair and taking his meals. A ging-
ham apron had been made for him. which
hung from his neck and over his breast.
After partaking of a meal, and when all
the members of his family were momen-
tarHy absent from his room, he struck a
match to light his pipe. A part of the
lighted match fell upon the apron and the
chemicals in it's coloring caused it to take
fire and blaze up instantly. In attempting
to tear the apron off, both of his hands
and one side Of his head, including the
ear, were severely burned. His " life, at
tracted by his struggles, came to his relief
and rescued him from his perilous cOndi-
ton. From that time he was helpless.
His hands had to be dressed twice day and
every attention that loving hearts could
render and skilled medical presence give,
was his. DIR. Richter was with him most
Of the time and his lovely granddaughter,
! the Misses Burlington and Keneiry, and
his devoted wife and daughter, Mrs. J. J.
Stack, jr., anticipated every want, and
soothed his sufferings by those tender
ministrations which woman alone can
| bestow. The granddaughter, with an af-
lection and unselfish solicitude rarely
equalled, alternated in sitting up with him
night after night. declining the generous
tender Of assistance from neighbors, from
a sense of duty as we'll as warm, loving
affection. 1t was a solace to the suffering
patient, which found response in the
most accomplishing resignation. Not O.
murmur of complaint was ever heard
to escape his lips. A ray Of sunshine
and beaming love to light up the gloom
OF the dying couch. If death can be
robbed of it's terrors and the grave en-
| braced rs the illumlned pathway to JOY
beyond, it was given to Mr.. Kelly to pass
through the valley of the shadow of
death amidst the sweet flowers of affection
and the aroma of tender loves, that solaced
the departing spirit as it left the decaying
| body to go where there is no more death
and where all tears are wiped away. The
death chamber was radiated by earthly affeG-
lions inspired by q pure and lofty
| christian faith, dispelling the sadness and
sorrow Of the tomb and reaching beyond
this vale Of tears to the happiness above.
1t was a lovely scene, even in the pres
| ence of death, and illustrated the power
of true heart. loves to assuage the griefs of
| life and shed a halo over dissolving nature.
John Kelley was born in County of Cork,
Ireland, on the 18th of June, 1872, and
came to America fifty years ago. He ear
| Iy engaged in railroad con struction. his
first work being on the Baltimore and Ohio
road, under Chief Engineer Latrobe. In
| 184T he came to Virginia, and under Clin-
| ton B. Fisk, constructed the Blue Ridge
Tunnel, the firm being Kelly & Larguey.
He subsequently built two other tunnels
on this improvement. Subsequent to the
war he was engaged on the same work
under G. z. Huntington. After the COM
pletion of his contracts On the internal
improvements Of the State, he retired to
/ his splendid estate, Sweet Chalybeate
Springs, in Allegheny county, which he
purchased in 1862 for $4,000, where he
lived in comfort and ease, amidst the at
fections of his family, and dispensed hos
pitality and charities with an unsellish and
lavish hand. Noappeal from the needy was
ever made to him without a generous re-
spouse. The poor, especially of his neigh
borhood, will miss his kindness and gener-
osity, and the citizens generally will feel
the absence of a philosophical, intelli-
gent and honorable member of eommu-
nifty.
He was married, while engaged on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. to Miss Ho-
nora o Brien, who survives him, with four
children, Mrs. ]. J. Stack, j., a married
daughter in New 7 ork, and Messrs. John
ana James Kelly, who reside at the home
stead. Mrs. Kelly, who still bears traces of
youthful beauty, was helpmate indeed,
directing her remarkable energies and saga
cious Judgment to the advancement of the
interests Of her husband and lighting his
pathway through life with a love that grew
| brighter and stronger as the sands Of life